PHOENIX, AZ—MAY 1, 2016—Turf Paradise hosted three AQHA Racing Challenge stakes on Sunday's race card. The winner of each race will get an automatic berth to their respective division during the Bank of America Challenge Championship Night at Los Alamitos Race Course, October 29th.

Bank of America Turf Paradise Challenge Championship

Cesar Dabdoub's Eyesa Famous Eagle rolled to an one-length win over Jess A Cowboy in the $56,340 Bank of America Turf Paradise Challenge Championship Sunday afternoon. The Midnite Caller finished 1½ lengths back in the show place.

The multiple stakes winning son of leading sire One Famous Eagle completed the 440 yard task in a quick :21.087 seconds to earn a 113 speed index. Emilo Tapia had the riding call for trainer Havid Canez.

Burnett Ranches, LLC bred Eyesa Famous Eagle in Texas from the Eyesa Special mare Eyesa Glass. The 5-year-old has compiled a (25) 5-8-6 record and used the $27,043 winner's purse to boost his earnings total over $213,022.

Already at derby winner at 3 at Los Alamitos Race Course, today's victory also earns Eyesa Famous Eagle a starting spot in the Grade 1 $350,000-Guaranteed Bank of America Challenge Championship on October 29th at the Orange County racetrack.

Under jockey Vince Guerra, multiple stakes winner Jess A Cowboy put in a late rally for trainer Matthew Fales to finish second. Owned-and-bred by Larry and Phyllis Stark and racing for Larry Stark, the Dejon 4-year-old picked up $11,550 to bring his earnings total to $71,444. The five-time winner is out of the Canth mare Secret Return.

Ricardo Saldana saddled The Midnite Caller for owner Alejandro Arias. Carlos Marquez rode the multiple stakes winning son of A Regal Choice. Out of the Murrtheblurr (TB) mare Cee The Blurr, The Midnite Caller picked up $6,634 for third. J/M Loveland and L. Southworth bred the 6-year-old in Idaho.

Heat Warning, Specials Gold, Lotta Corona, Block N Tackle and All Guns Firing completed the field.

John Deere Turf Paradise Juvenile Challenge

Apollitical Boogie broke on top and extended his lead to 1½ lengths at the wire over fastest qualifier Tres N Candy to win the $32,310 John Deere Turf Paradise Juvenile Challenge Sunday afternoon at Turf Paradise. Runaway Preslee finished a nose back in third.

The win also garners Apollitical Boogie a starting spot in the $150,000-Guaranteed John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship(G2) during the Bank of America Challenge Championships, October 29th at Los Alamitos Race Course.

Ridden by jockey Rodolfo Arvizu, the sorrel gelding covered the 350 yards in a quick :17.814 seconds to earn a 92-speed index. The $14,862 winners' purse boosted the son of leading third crop sire Apollitical Jess' earnings total to $16,685.

Eloy Mendoza saddled the Arizona homebred for owner/breeder Amado De la Riva. Out of the Late To Bed mare Shakin Ana Dashin, the sorrel gelding is a perfect 2-for-2.

Fastest qualifier Tres N Candy got up for second after drifting under jockey Luis Yescas. It was the first loss in three starts for the Tres Seis filly owned by Y/N Horse Stables, LLC and conditioned by Omar Lorta. Guy Rodriguez Peixoto Junior bred the gray filly in California from the White Tie mare Sex N Candy. She earned $6,462 for the effort.

The royally bred Runaway Preslee races for owner McColee Land and Livestock and is trained by Justin Joiner. The daughter of leading sire Corona Cartel is a half-brother to world champion Wave Carver and champion Ocean Runaway. Bred in Maryland by Lucas Racing, Inc., the bay filly earned $3,231. Sergio Dominguez had the riding assignment aboard the 2-year-old out of Runaway Wave, by Runaway Winner.

Absolutely Kool, Looken Up, Hoot And Holler, Manofmany Talents, Also A Carver and Olivia Pope completed the field. Camp David was a late scratch after flipping in the gate.

Zoetis Turf Paradise Distance Challenge Mickey Ward defended his Zoetis Turf Paradise Distance Challenge title after sprinting clear of the field, setting the pace and finishing 3¼ lengths ahead of Old Troubadour. Ridden by jockey Jorge Bourdieu, the son of FDD Dynasty completed the 870 yards in :45.130 seconds, a 98-speed index.

Trainer Matthew Fales saddled the 5-year-old to first start in nearly year. Owned-and-bred by Ralph and Carolyn Fales, Mickey Ward is out of the Leaving Memories mare A Mere Formality. The multiple stakes winner has compiled a (11) 3-4-0 record. The $9,855 winner's purse from the $19,710 Challenge event boosted the sorrel geldings earnings total to $28,275.

Today's win also earned Mickey Ward a starting spot in the Grade 1 $125,000-Guarnteed Zoetis Distance Challenge Championship on October 29th at Los Alamitos Race Course in Cypress, California.

A stakes-placed son of multiple stakes sire Snowbound (TB), Old Troubadour races for owner Jesus Olivas and trainer Brand Trego. Jose Rivera, Jr. had the riding call on the California-bred 8-year-old out of Sum Chicks Fly, by Chicks Beduino. Bred by James Azevedo and Boyles Trust, Old Troubadour earned $4,238.

Rare Ed, a 5-year-old son of Dean Miracle, finished three-quarters back in the show position for owner/breeder Martin Marin and trainer Jim Crotts. The Illinois-bred is out of Ms Corona Jet, by Corona Cartel. Jockey Fernando Gamez was up to earn $2,168.

Mr Fun On The Run, Cnc Dream On and Cruisen completed the field.